Post #3 Causes of an unhealthy gut
The complexity and fragility of our gut lends to many and often-overlapping causes in producing an unhealthy gut. Listed below are a few major ones:
Processed Foods: The term SAD (Standardized American Diet) was coined in Functional Medicine to reflect the negative impact of an American diet which is characterized by high fat, high sugar, and low fiber intake. This diet damages our gut and has led to an epidemic of Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease experienced in the US.
Stress: Our busy lifestyle, understandably, can produce stress daily. Stress causes the production of the hormone Cortisol, the fight or flight hormone, that when excessive, creates inflammation and oxidative stress. These conditions change the gut flora in an unhealthy direction, dysregulates out gut immune system and can set the stage for a host of chronic conditions.
Inadequate Sleep: There is such a powerful two-way link between the brain and gut mediated by the nervous system including the hypothalamus. The effects, when negative, can be synergistic. Inadequate sleep leads to impaired mental function and GI health changing how we eat and process food. The result is bad gut health which can cause/amplify brain dysfunction.
Medications: Medications can damage our gut environment and lead to the inadequate absorption of nutrients, and the growth of bad gut flora (bacteria). PPI’s (Proton Pump Inhibitors) are the third most common medication in the United States, and they work by inhibiting acid production in the stomach. Since acid is essential for the breakdown of the foods, it should come as no surprise that PPI use has been associated with hypo(low) magnesium, B12 deficiency, low bone density and diarrhea.
Toxins: Unfortunately, our system is awash with toxins from the outside world coming from the food we eat, exposure to the environment and the products we use like cosmetics. Over time these exposures can build up and produce chronic damage to our gut.
